Dispenser



J. E. DAVIS DISPENSER Aug. 10, 1965 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 United States Patent The present invention relates to dispensers, and it relates more particularly to an improved dispenser for use in conjunction with a shower head to add a liquid, solid, or gas to the water discharged from the shower head.

This application is a continuation-inpart of copending application Serial No. 196,098, now abandoned, which was filed May 21, 1962, in the name of the present inventor.

The improved mechanism of the present invention is intended to be coupled into the water pipe or conduit leading to the usual bathroom shower head. T e mechanism is constructed to be manually controlled so as to introduce a selected substance, such as bath oil, water softener, soap, perfume, bath salts, and the like, into the shower water.

The improved mechanism of the present invention serves to dispense the body oil, or other substance, into the shower water under pressure from an expendable aerosol container.

Aerosol dispensers have become extremely popular in recent years, and have found utility in a wide variety of fields. As is well known, the aerosol dispenser is capable of holding a quantity of the substance to be dispensed in compact form, and of expelling its contents as a fine mist under pressure upon the actuation of the simple manually controlled nozzle and valve mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism which includes a replaceable aerosol container, and which may be easily coupled into the conduit leading to the usual bathroom shower head; the

rechanisrn being capable of dispensing a body oil, or other additive, under pressure into the shower water upon a simple manual control.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved mechanism which is constructed to respond to a simple manual control to introduce a pressurized stream of the substance from the aerosol container into the shower water for brief intervals and only when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an im roved mechanism which is constructed to permit the aerosol containers to be replaced when empty by a full container, and for this to be achieved in a simple and straightforward manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved mechanism which is not only simple to install in existing shower bath assemblies, but which is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and which may be sold at a relatively low price.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, when the description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly in section, of one embodiment of the improved mechanism of the invention mounted in place in a usual bathroom shower assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken substantially on the line 2-2 of IGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly, taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side sectional view of a ice mechanism constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of FIGURE 4, taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1-3 for a detailed description of the first embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the illustrated assembly includes a first conduit 10 in the form of a usual water pipe, the conduit 10 being threaded into a water line 12 mounted in the bathroom wall.

The assembly also includes a usual shower head 14. The threaded coupling 16 is coupled to the shower head by means of a usual universal ball and socket joint 18. For usual installations, the coupling in is threaded to the male threads at the right hand end of the conduit 1%.

In order to install the mechanism of the present invention in an existing shower bath assembly, the coupling 16 is removed from the conduit 19, and a tubular adapter 24) is interposed between the conduit and the shower head. The adapter Zil may be formed of any appropriate material, such as brass.

The tubular adapter 24) has a first portion 2dr: which includes a female thread at one end to permit the adapter to be threaded onto the end of the conduit 16'. The adapter includes a male thread at the other end which is adapted to receive the coupling 16 of the shower head. The first portion 29a of the adapter 26 includes a passageway 259]) which serves to carry Water from the conduit 1% to the shower head 14.

The tubular adapter 2% also includes a second portion 260. The second portion is formed integral with the first portion, and it extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first portion, as shown in FIGURE 1. The portion 2190 of the adapter 26 includes an aperture 29d which extends through the second portion and into the passageway Ztlb of the first portion. The lower end of the aperture Zita has an enlarged diameter, so that an internal shoulder Zhe is formed in the aperture.

The assembly of FiGURE 1 also includes a housing 22 which, as illustrated, preferably has a tubular configuration. The tubular housing 22 may be formed of an appropriate plastic material.

The second portion 26c of the adapter 29 has a peripheral channel 23; extending around the inner surface of its lower rim. The housing 22 has a pair of pins 24 extending through its upper rim, and the heads of these pins are adapted to be inserted through vertical slots Zilg into the peripheral channel 29 as the upper rim of the housing 22 is inserted into the second portion Zl'ic of the adapter 2%. In this manner, the housing 22 may be removably supported in the adapter, merely by inserting its upper end into the adapter, and by then turning the housing through a half turn.

An aerosol container 3t? is supported in the housing 22. This aerosol container is a replaceable item, and a supply of such containers for use in the mechanism may be purchased. The container 31 contains body oil, or other additives to be dispensed into the shower water. The container includes an upper nozzle Eda which is spring loaded, and which opens an inner valve when it is depressed down into the container 3t). In accordance with well known aerosol principles, when the nozzle 36a is depressed down, the substance in the aerosol container 39 is discharged under pressure through the nozzle.

In the mechanism of the present invention, when the housing 22 is inserted into place in the adapter 290, the nozzle 30a enters the enlarged portion of the aperture 20d, and its end bears against the inner shoulder 292. The nozzle 38a is composed of a plastic material, and it is rigidly and firmly grasped within the enlarged lower end of the aperture 2th, when the housing 22 is inserted into place. The nozzle provides an adequate seal to prevent water from the shower from entering the interior of the second portion c of the adapter 20. v

The lower end of the housing 22 includes a push button actuator 40. This actuator includes a plastic stud 49a which has an enlarged head and which extends through an aperture in the lower end of the housing 22. The stud 40a is cemented, or other-Wise atfixed, to a plastic discshaped button 40b. A resilient sponge rubber member 44):: is inserted between the lower end of the housing 22 and the button 40b.

When the button 40b is moved against the sponge rubber member 40c, the head of the stud 40a moves against the bottom of the container and moves the container upwardly in the housing 22. The shoulder 20e in the aperture 20d prevents the nozzle 30a from moving upwardly, so that when the container is so moved the nozzle 30a is depressed relative thereto. This depression of the nozzle 30a, as mentioned above, causes the contents of the container 30 to be discharged through the nozzle and to pass under pressure through the aperture 20d into the shower water in the passage 20b.

Therefore, whenever it is desired to dispense an additive into the shower bath water, it is merely necessary for the user to move the push button b upwardly with respect to the housing 22.

52 is threaded onto the lower end of the second portion 500 of the adapter 50, and may be removed when the aerosol container 39 is empty. The mechanism of the second embodiment is operated in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and by depressing the push button 55 against the spring 58. This causes the stud member 56 to rise in the housing 52, and to force the container 30 upwardly with respect to the housing. The resilient sealing member 54 prevents any movement of the nozzle 30a, so that the nozzle is depressed relative to the container. This causes a spray of pressurized substance fromthe container to pass through the nozzle, through the aperture 54a in the sealing member 54, and through the aperture d into the shower water.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved mechanism which may be readily coupled into existing shower bath assemblies. The improved mechanism is advantageous in that it uses replaceable aerosol containers, and

i is constructed so that these containers can be incorporated The mechanism described above is simple to install in I existing shower bath assemblies, since it entails merely the insertion of the adapter 20 between the conduit 10 and the shower head 14. Also, the aerosol containers can be easily inserted into the mechanism, merely by removing the housing 22, by placing a container 30 into the housing, and then by inserting the housing into the adapter 20. Also, the mechanism can be operated at will, merely by actuating the push button 40.

The embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5 is generally similar to the embodiment described above, and like components have been designated by the same numbers.

In the latter embodiment, an adapter 50 is interposed between the conduit 10 and the shower head coupler 16. The adapter 50 is generally similar to the adapter 20 described above, and it includes a first portion 50a which has a passage 50b extending through it for carrying water from the conduit 10 to the shower head 16.

The adapter 50 also includes a second portion 50c which has external threads for receiving a tubular housing 52. The tubular housing 52 is generally similar to the housing 22 described above, except that it includes a threaded upper rim portion which permits the housing 52 to be removably mounted on the second portion 50c of the adapter 50. In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, the housing 52 includes external longitudinal ribs 52a which may be grasped to facilitate the mounting and demounting of the housing.

The second portion 500 of the adapter 50 includes an aperture 50d which extends into the passage 50b. A

resilient sealing member 54 is mounted in the second portion 50c, and is held in place by a tubular member 56. The sealing member 54 has an aperture 54a extending through it into the aperture 50d. The sealing member 54 is adapted to receive the nozzle 349a of the aerosol container 30, and to hold the nozzle rigidly and firmly. The sealing member 54 and nozzle 30a in the second embodiment co-operate to provide a seal against water from the shower entering the interior of the second portion 500 of the adapter.

The embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5 also includes a push button actuator at the lower end of the housing 52. The actuator includes a re-entrant type push button 55 which is affixed to the lower end of a plastic stud 56. As in the previous embodiment, the stud 56 extends through an aperture in the lower wall of the housing 52. A resilient spring 58 is mounted between the push button member 55 and the lower wall of the housing 52. The housing into the mechanism in a simple manner. In addition, the improved mechanism of the invention is extremely easy to operate.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the claims to cover all such modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a shower head and adapted to be coupled into a conduit carrying shower water to the shower head for dispensing a substance under pressure from an aerosol container into the shower water, said aerosol container having a nozzle at one end thereof for discharging substance from the container under pressure when the nozzle is moved relative to the container, said mechanism including: a tubular adapter configured to be interposed between the conduit and the shower head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head, and having a second portion with an aperture therein extending into said passageway; a housing removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter for supporting the aerosol container with the nozzle thereof extending into the end of said aperture remote from said passageway; and actuator means mounted on said housing and engaging said aerosol container for selectively moving said container relative to said housing and said nozzle, thereby to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container under pressure to the aperture in said second portion and into the shower water.

2. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a shower head and adapted to be coupled into a conduit carrying shower water to the shower head for dispensing a substance under pressure from an aerosol container into the shower water, said aerosol container having a nozzle at one end thereof for discharging the substance from the container under pressure when the nozzle is moved relative to the container, said mechanism including: a tubular adapter configured to be interposed between the conduit and the shower head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head, and having a second portion; a housing for the terosol container removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter; a member supported in said second portion of said adapter and having an aperture therethrough for receiving and gripping said nozzle; and means for selectively moving said container relative to said last-mentioned member to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container through said member and into said passageway to be dispensed into the shower water.

3. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a shower head and adapted to be coupled into a conduit carrying shower water to the shower head for dispensing a substance under pressure from an aerosol into the shower water, said aerosol container having a nozzle at one end there of for discharging substance from the container under pressure when the nozzle is moved relative to the container, said mechanism including: a tubular adapter configured to be interposed between the conduit and the shower head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head, and having a second portion with an aperture therein extending into said passageway and with the end of said aperture remote from said passageway having an enlarged cross-section; a housing removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter for supporting the aerosol container with the nozzle thereof extending into said enlarged remote end of said aperture; and an aeuator means mounted on said housing and engaging the aerosol container for selectively moving said container relative to said housing and said nozzle, thereby to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container under pressure through the aperture in said second portion of said adapter and into said passageway to be dispensed into the shower water.

4. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a shower head and adapted to be coupled into the conduit carrying water to the shower head for dispensing a substance under pressure from an aerosol container into the shower water, said aerosol container having a nozzle at one end thereof for discharging the substance therefrom under pressure when the nozzle is moved inwardly relative to the container, said mechanism including: a tubular adapter having first and second portions and configured to be interposed between the conduit and the shower head, said adapter having an internal passage extending through said first portion for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head and having an aperture coupling the interior of said second portion to said passage, said aperture having an enlarged portion at the end thereof remote from said passage forming a shoulder in said aperture; a housing for the aerosol container removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter for supporting the aerosol container with the nozzle thereof extending into said enlarged portion of said aperture and abutting against said shoulder; and a resilient biased manually actuated actuator mounted at the end of said housing remote from said adapter and engaging the end of said aerosol container for electively moving said container relative to said housing and said nozzle and thereby to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance under pressure from the container through said aperture in said second portion of said adapter and into said passage to be dispensed into the shower water.

5. A shower bath assembly including: a shower head; a conduit for carrying shower water to the shower head; a tubular adapter coupled to said conduit and to said shower head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head, and having a second portion with an aperture therein extending into said passageway; a housing removably supported on said second portion of said adapter; an aerosol container supported in said housing and having a nozzle extending into said aperture, said nozzle discharging substance from the container under pressure when moved relative to the container; and acutator means mounted on said housing and engaging the aerosol container for selectively moving said container relative to said housing and said nozzle, thereby to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container under pressure through the aperture in said second portion of said adapter and into said passageway to be dispensed into the shower water.

6. A shower bath assembly including: a shower head; a conduit for carrying water to the shower head; a tubular adapter coupled to said conduit and to said shower head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the shower head, and having a second portion; a housing removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter; an aerosol container supported in said housing and having a nozzle at one end thereof for discharging a substance from the container under pressure when the nozzle is moved relative to the container; a member supported in said second portion of said adapter and having an aperture therethrough for receiving and gripping said nozzle; and means for selectively moving said container relative to said last-mentioned member to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container through said member and into said passageway to be dispensed into the shower Water.

7. The mechanism defined in claim 4 in which said actuator includes a headed stud extending through an aperture in the end of said housing, a push button member afiixed to the end of said stud externally of said housing, and a resilient member interposed between the end of said housing and said push button member.

8. The mechanism defined in claim 4 in which said actuator includes a headed plastic stud extending through an aperture in the end of said housing, a disc-shaped plastic push button member affixed to the end of said stud externally of said housing, and a sponge rubber resilient member interposed between the end of said housing and said push button member.

9. The mechanism defined in claim 4 in which said second portion of said adapter includes an inner peripheral channel, and in which said housing includes at least one pin member positioned to project into said channel to removably mount said housing on said second portion of said adapter.

19. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a spray head and adapter to be coupled into a conduit carrying water to the spray head for dispensing a substance under pressure from an aerosol container into the water, said aerosol container having a nozzle at one end thereof for discharging substance from the container under pressure when the nozzle is moved relative to the container, said mechanism including: a tubular adapter configured to be interposed between the conduit and the spray head and having a first portion with a passageway extending therethrough for carrying water from the conduit to the spray head, and having a second portion with an aperture therein extending into said passageway; a housing removably mounted on said second portion of said adapter for supporting the aerosol container with the nozzle thereof extending into the end of said aperture remote from said passageway; and actuator means mounted on said housing and engaging said aerosol container for selectively moving said container relative to said housing and said nozzle, thereby to cause said nozzle to discharge the substance from the container under pressure through the aperture in said second portion and into the water.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,803 11/29 Shields et a1 239-313 2,310,633 2/43 Heimburger 239-354 2,743,913 5/56 Gundlach 239-315 2,891,913 6/59 Welford 239-311 2,914,222 11/59 Meshberg 239-337 2,943,766 7/60 Orr 222-394 3,069,097 12/62 Cheney 239-338 3,071,081 1/63 Mullick 239-310 3,094,130 6/63 Weiner 222-394 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MECHANISM FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SHOWER HEAD AND ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED INTO A CONDUIT CARRYING SHOWER WATER TO THE SHOWER HEAD FOR DISPENSING A SUBNG STANCE UNDER PRESSURE FROM AN AEROSOL CONTAINER INTO THE SHOWER WATER, SAID AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A NOZZLE AT ONE END THEREOF FOR DISCHARGING SUBSTANCE FROM THE CONTAINER UNDER PRESSURE WHEN THE NOZZLE IS MOVED RELATIVE TO THE CONTAINER, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING: A TUBULAR ADAPTER CONFIGURED TO BE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE CONDUIT AND THE SHOWER HEAD AND HAVING A FIRST PORTION WITH A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH A FIRST PORTION WITH A FROM THE CONDUIT TO THE SHOWER HEAD, AND HAVING A SECOND PORTION WITH AN APERTURE THEREIN EXTENDING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY; A HOUSING REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID ADAPTER FOR SUPPORTING THE AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH THE NOZZLE THEREOF EXTENDING INTO THE END OF SAID APERTURE REMOTE FROM SAID PASSAGEWAY; AND ACTUATOR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING AND ENGAGING SAID AEROSOL CONTAINER FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID CONTAINER RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING AND SAID NOZZLE, THEREBY TO CAUSE SAID NOZZLE 